A Cancer Scare Bonds Them All In Song

New Girl, S01E15

I never thought I would like a story this much that dealt with a character possibly dying.  I feel like they had a great balance between their usual funny tempo without completely ignoring the seriousness of Nick's almost cancer.  Underneath the characters' clumsy and amusing pre-mourning antics, we got to some deeper issues about the characters, such as Nick's refusal to actually live.  Jess pointed out that his life is a bit wasted if he doesn't try to do some of things he wants in life.

I knew the gang was tight and all, but last night I really learned how much they cared about their own.  I wasn't surprised that Jess leaped at the chance to help Nick against his will since she has a tendency to be "helpful" regardless of what others tell her.  However, I didn't know Winston and Schmidt would go into emotional overdrive as well.  This was best expressed by the "Sad Song" Winston started singing and playing on the piano.  He was joined by Schmidt's rapping and later Cece added some beats as well (I think she was the best, but Schmidt was the funniest).

Thanks to Jess getting "real" Nick is convinced he needs to jump into the ocean before he dies.  Before that happens, I love when Nick adamantly tells Jess that she is not speaking at his funeral because of her horrible Daniel Boone joke and her obsession with trying to cheer everyone up.  

There were so many great moments and lines in this episode that it's hard for me to chose which to mention.  At the top by far is when Schmidt plants a lovely "Fredo Kiss" onto Nick.  I just didn't know how much he loved Nick.  Yet I don't feel like Schmidt kissing him is out of place in the least bit.  It was almost a moment of "finally," which is strange.  Did I feel like Schmidt would be doing this one day?

Schmidt also brought a joke from another episode to full circle when Winston suggested that Nick's naked jump in the ocean might be Schmidt's only opportunity to see his penis.  Schmidt runs off in no time after hearing that.  It's no question whether Schmidt likes girls, but if he did have to romantically love a man, I think he would go for Nick in a heartbeat.

I loved it when everyone was on the beach, after Nick had calmed down from his freakout about the cold and the impending death.  He looked at Jess and told her he liked her a lot!  Aww!  And that he is glad that Jess is around.  I was anxiously awaiting a drunken kiss, but Nick seemed aware of himself enough not to do anything stupid like that.  However, I feel like they were a little more chummy after that moment, and we can only hope to see it grow before they are dating!  Yay, Nick and Jess!

Other great moment in this episode included when Jess started a chain reaction of crying among Nick's friends, Nick asking why no one was helping him after his back went out from Jess' tackle, and Winston's raggedy-ass car.  I have to elaborate more on how ridiculous it was that he was driving it through a Schmidt line:  

You shouldn't call 'em keys.  It's a paperclip that you start the car with.

Before the episode ends, we get one more kiss between Nick and Schmidt after the good news of no cancer, and Winston is forced to leave his car behind (literally) and think about a new one.  It was sweet that everyone joined together to pay for his ultrasound and good that the growth on his thyroid wasn't anything life threatening.  Even though they managed to be hilarious through this episode, I couldn't imagine they could continue to be as funny if Nick's days were numbered.

I don't have any complaints about this episode at all.  It was good in showing how significant the relationship between Nick, Schmidt, Winston, and Jess is.  As much as I love a good comedy, I like a good show about friendships.  There are few things I enjoy more than watching friends who, as crazy and mismatched as they may be, really come together when shit hits the fan.